KARACHI: The Sydney Marathon, scheduled for August 31, is ready to develop into the world’s seventh Abbott World Marathon Main — and Pakistani runners will mark the event with historic milestones of their very own.
A number of Pakistanis, together with Pakistani diaspora, will full their seventh Abbott star in Sydney, incomes a spot among the many world’s elite beginner marathoners.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors are thought of the top of distance working, consisting of essentially the most prestigious marathons on this planet.
Till now, the collection included six races — Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York Metropolis, and Tokyo. With Sydney formally added in 2025, it turns into the seventh race within the collection.
Runners who full all of them earn the uncommon “Seven Star Medal”, a distinction held by solely a handful of athletes globally.
Amongst these chasing this honour is Karachi-based runner and coach Faisal Shafi, who has pledged to make use of the Sydney race not solely as a private milestone but in addition as a platform to pay tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and martyrs in a novel approach.
Shafi will try a Guinness World File for the quickest marathon run in a lightweight military-inspired go well with.
“I have been blessed to run marathons the world over, however Sydney 2025 is totally different. This time I run with a mission: to honour the Pakistan armed forces — and particularly the martyred troopers whose sacrifices defend our nation’s honor and freedom,” Shafi mentioned.
The Guinness class file at present stands at 3 hours, 39 minutes. Shafi mentioned the go well with he’ll put on is “not an official military uniform” however a light-weight design created to face up to the marathon distance whereas symbolically representing the braveness of Pakistani troopers.
“I will be sporting a lightweight military-inspired working go well with. It isn’t an official military uniform. It is designed for endurance, as a mark of respect — a symbolic approach of carrying their braveness on my shoulders. It’s a tribute, not imitation,” he defined.
“Each mile I run will honor their reminiscence. This file try is greater than me. It is a message to the working group that marathons can carry which means — they could be a platform to honor heritage, sacrifice and produce individuals collectively,” he mentioned.
Shafi, who beforehand ran the Boston Marathon in conventional shalwar kameez to rejoice Pakistani tradition, mentioned finishing the Sydney race and incomes his seventh star is a “heartfelt tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces”.
“Incomes my seventh Abbott Star carries a deeper which means — it is not only a private milestone, however a heartfelt tribute. By trying to enter the file books as a civilian, I really feel really honoured to symbolize my nation on the world stage,” he mentioned.
Islamabad-based runner Bilal Ehsan, who will probably be working his sixth main in Sydney, mentioned the occasion carries particular significance for Pakistan’s working group.
“Excited to be in Sydney for what’s going to quickly be the seventh Abbott World Marathon Main. This will probably be my sixth Main, and I can already really feel the power — working via this lovely metropolis, battling the hills, and soaking all of it in,” Ehsan mentioned.
“What makes it much more particular is being right here with my household and several other fellow Pakistanis. No PB strain this time — the objective is easy: stay the second, benefit from the course, and rejoice the journey. Sydney, let’s do that!”
Karachi businessman and marathoner Bacha Khan, 55, will run his third main in Sydney after months of rigorous coaching.
“Regardless of my enterprise commitments, I devoted time to health and adopted a disciplined coaching plan all year long, particularly within the final three months,” Khan mentioned. “My purpose isn’t just to complete the race however to beat my private finest. Every marathon is a brand new problem for me, and Sydney isn’t any totally different. I’m desperate to show the hassle and dedication I’ve put into this preparation on the streets of Sydney.”
The Pakistani contingent in Sydney will function over 30 runners, together with eight girls.
Seven runners — Dr Salman Khan (USA), Jamal Khan (USA), Huma Rahman (UK), Fahd Mukhtar (Multan), Faisal Shafi (Karachi), Hamid Butt (Lahore) and Yusra Bokhari (USA) — are set to develop into the primary Pakistanis to finish all seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, securing their place in historical past as “Seven Star Finishers”.
The Sydney Marathon, based in 2001, has rapidly risen in international prominence.
Its scenic course takes runners throughout the long-lasting Sydney Harbour Bridge, via town’s central enterprise district and historic precincts, and finishes on the world-renowned Sydney Opera Home.
With Sydney’s addition, the World Marathon Majors now span 4 continents and produce a brand new hemisphere into the fold, highlighting the really international enchantment of distance working.
For Pakistani runners, Sydney won’t simply be one other race — it will likely be a landmark occasion that mixes private triumphs, nationwide pleasure, and international recognition.
From Shafi’s file try and the historic completion of Abbott stars, the inexperienced and white of Pakistan will probably be represented on the highest stage of the game.
Pakistani members at Sydney Marathon (August 31, 2025):
- Dr Salman Khan (USA)
- Jamal Khan (USA)
- Abu-Bakr Mohammad Afzal (UK)
- Shazia Nawaz (USA) F
- Sijal Ahmad (Sydney)
- Khoula Ahmed (Norway) F
- Fasih Al Saleh (Norway)
- Semeena Khan (UK) F
- Huma Rahman (UK) F
- Fahd Mukhtar (Multan)
- Anees Khawaja (Multan)
- Faisal Shafi (Karachi)
- Hamid Butt (Lahore)
- Muhammad Junaid (Karachi)
- Bilal Ehsan (Islamabad)
- Yawar Siddiqui (Islamabad)
- Nida Yawar (Islamabad) F
- Imran Zaffar (UK)
- Yusra Bokhari, (USA) F
- Ammar Mumtaz (Islamabad)
- Bacha Khan (Karachi)
- Dr. Ahmad Zubair (UK)
- Ahmer Khan (Austria)
- Aylia Zaidi (USA) F
- Ali Zaidi (Australia)
- Ammar Zia (UK)
- Neelab Kayani (Rawalpindi) F
- Asad Jafri (Sydney)
- Hamad Ali (UK)
- Zawar (UK)
- Maeen Uddin (UAE)
